Tim LaComb: Utah Jazz NBA Draft options abound if they don’t end up with the top overall selectio…
Butter drink in my hand. And how about karma? You want karma? Yeah. Do you believe in it? Well, here’s what you do. You log on to kslsports.com to help raise money for a great cause and create some good vibrations for the Utah Jazz in the draft lottery. It is the KSL Sports Zones two for one. Donate at least $2 to Inter Primary Children’s Hospital in hopes of the Jazz recouping winning basketball here in Utah. Go to kslsports.com and donate your $2 today. DJ PK and Tim Lome join us now on 975 the zone. Jazz analyst for SCG media, former college coach. Tim, good morning. Hey, I just got a few words to say to you today. And it’s Tusks up, man. Let’s go. Let’s go. We got a name. And I think once you get a name, you get a blessing. So, let’s Oh, yeah. Yeah. The Tus. They’ll that’s how they’ll be known on the uh rolls of the Hawk of the NHL. Of the NHL. Yes. I think I like the Tus more than the Mammoth. First impression. And I’m glad they kept the color scheme. They had a good thing going. Don’t mess with it. Don’t mess with it. I’ve seen other teams mess with the color scheme and it hasn’t gone well. Let me show you the tus. Hey, I have I have not been priv privy to any of that kind of stuff, but I will say that now I’m pumped about it. I think the uh you can do a lot with a mammoth. You know, it’s a big big creature. So, I’m excited to see um what happens. It’s certainly been an exciting addition to the sports landscape. And as always, you know, um it’s it’s just waiting out there for us. Another uh another cup, another trophy to try to win. excited for our brethren on the ice and for Smith Entertainment and all that. It’s a It’s a cool day. Yes, it certainly is. I’m excited for it, too. And and away they go. NBA playoffs. That will be uh something we’ll discuss here. But I also want to talk to you about the draft lottery because we won’t talk to you officially on the air until after it’s happened obviously and that’s on Monday. I believe that Flag has the opportunity to literally be a franchise changer. I’m not going to put him at the LeBron level, but maybe a cut or two below that level because I’m real excited about him. You’ve seen him play. What is your evaluation of him in terms of being a franchise changer? Well, I think he can be um for sure and I think that’s based on his ability, but where um you know, comparisons are drawn, I think he’ll cut his own cloth. I mean, he’s a he’s a really unique player and that crazy skill. But the other part of it that I love about the guy is he works well with others and you know, the the game is a team game. And so, I think he’s been taught the game right. I think he he approaches it right. His effort is awesome on a nightly basis. Um and so yeah, I think he can be one of those guys. And I don’t know, man. I’ve got I’ve got a kind of a sneaky crazy feeling. And you know, when I share those typically, um they don’t necessarily come to fruition, but put it this way, I’m excited to see what happens. Oh, I know. It’s been far too long, man. It’s been far too long, right? It’s been never. Basketball gods are going to shine on them, man. Never. Let’s just cut to the chase. The Jazz have never had the one the number one pick. That mean a lot. I was here I was here when they got Griffith, right? Like I that’s how far back I go. I remember watching Griffith in college in that championship game against UCLA and you know getting he wasn’t getting online at the time. It was like getting a hold of a way to get posters from Nike. And I got a Dr. Dunkinstein poster. It was the coolest poster of all time. And you know, a young kid when you see a guy who just played in championship game come in have great success at college. You know, I’ll never forget it. And I’m excited, man. I think, you know, the Jazz have put themselves by by virtue of what, you know, this rebuilder. They’ve they’ve played and and fished in ponds and done things that the Jazz necessarily haven’t always done, but they’ve also right now they’re going to have a opportunity to get that one pick. And um man, we’re we’re only a few days away. I think I leave cuz you know I’m the one going back. Um they’re putting me in the bear costume, but it is going to be me underneath that. So don’t spoil the secret. Okay. All right. I think we know who the second player picked in the draft will be, but is he really the second best player or is there someone if they don’t get number one, is there someone you’d like to see him draft other than Harper? because Harper is consensus number two pick everywhere you look. Yeah. And I think talent-wise I think he is that guy. But but that’s me, you know. I mean there were a lot of people saying that back in the um the Tatum and and Folk draft and so really beauties in the eye of the beholder. And one thing I will say is I have really liked the picks the Jazz have made. Um, and I know the the Cody Williams pick this year is still out there and Cody did not necessarily perform at a great level this year, but I think that was all pretty expected with his his physique and I think when his physique changes, people will see the reason Cody was was in that mix. But I think they’ve done a nice job. Not necessarily always just trying to get the highest hype guy, but the guys that, you know, kind of move the needle in an area and then more importantly have the desire and the work ethic to improve and get better. Um, but I think Harper’s, me personally, I think Harper’s too, from what I’ve watched, I’ I’ve got to really dig in here soon. Um, you know, a three-week stretch where I put the guitar down and and just look at at the draft. But um I would say the Harpers too, but there are other guys that bring things. Um and and Danny A is always, you know, D Xanic, those guys are always looking for a freak, you know, somebody can do something at an elite level that can help the team. So um again, they’ll they’ll scour and do all their research and do all their work, but the proof in the pudding, the stuff that they’ve brought here, you know, the roster that they’ve started to build here, it’s really talented. And it’s talented in different ways. And so I think they’ll continue to try to do that. Yeah. The great thing is if they get number one, which I think they will too. I feel it, man, that they won’t have to think very much about who to pick number one. Now, they still got work to do on a tons of other stuff. If they were to get flag, I’m still thinking that you go along the lines of the rebuild rather than trying to get a couple veterans in here and and get yourself five or six more wins. What do you think? Well, I think if they get him and the with the the roster kind of that’s I guess to use a church term again, presently constituted, um I I think that the I think they’re ready to to take the next step. And I think at that point, you’re not necessarily, you know, trying to get the the number one pick, per se. I think what you’re trying to do now is figure out the way forward. And I still believe if guys would have been healthy this year, this team would have won way more games, you know, 10 to 15 more games. Um, and you add flag to that per that mix. And obviously there’s going to be some some crossover carryover. So, there’s going to have to be some moves made in the summertime to to show everything up. But, I think they’re ready to rock and roll. I think they’re ready to start down the yellow brick road on the way to the wii the Wizard. Yeah, I don’t know that I go with that, but I appreciate your answer. No, it’s I that’s how honestly how I feel. I I really do. I I don’t think they win it, right? That’s not my point, but I think they start the journey. Oh, yeah. And then you start to I mean, you’re on the road. you’re you’re trying to figure it out, but that’s also when you know you meet people like the cowardly lion and the the tin man that that other places maybe discard and you could pick up. So I think that’s where you start your journey. Yeah, but God never did give nothing to the tin man that he didn’t already have. That that is a very good point from history. Thank you. I don’t know about that. I just know the flying monkeys are wildly unpredictable and I expect another year of wildly unpredictable flying monkeys. I think they’re only going for it if they hit on flag and they hit on a trade. Maybe not the big game hunting, but at least a medium-sized game hunting. Then I could see them going. But otherwise, this draft’s supposed to be good and they don’t want to give up the pick. I think they’ll have one of the five worst records in the NBA and they’ll do what they have to do to engineer it. And maybe they’ll engineer it in the summer with a trade, make the roster younger, and that’ll take care of that. Yeah. Well, the best part about it is we get to sit here and watch it. Um, you know, all season long we talked about the playoffs in the pre and post and how fun they would be. The playoffs are definitely fun right now. Um, the, you know, that’s the beauty of it though is David Lock all year long was saying the he thought the Wolves would be that second team um, you know, to play the Thunder and all of a sudden now the Thunder are down. The Celtics are down, the Cavs are down 20. So that is why we do all this. We we conjecture, we talk about it, but it does get to get done. And you know, you guys make great points and I also think my point’s pretty solid. And again, I’m not saying they’re going to try to win the championship, but I think the days of, you know, guys sitting out, um, you know, all of that stuff. I think we, if Cooper flags here, I think we’re starting to we’re starting to move and see what else we can acquire along the way. But wins become more important at that point. We always hear that and we’ve seen it if you watch the game that the difference between the playoffs and the regular season is very much uh different and the intensity and all that. And so now we’ve seen teams just continue to play in the manner in which they play in the regular season. And what I mean by that is continue to jack up threes and they’re not falling. That Minnesota number. Yeah. They’re like 12 of 76. Donovan Mitchell two of 18. I mean, it just goes on and on and but I can make an argument. Sure, in the regular season when the in by their own acknowledgement, the game isn’t as physical or as intense. I mean, you can you literally can see it when you watch the games. It’s like no surprise to anyone. And the players and the folks on the inside actually admit that. So, I’m wondering how good is the three-point shot if the intensity is much stronger and they’re being contested because people are playing much harder in the playoffs. Should they adjust and not just throw up bricks after the Celtics the other day, they get a 20-point lead, they come down the next 10 possessions, they go 0 for 10 at from three. It just doesn’t make sense to me. Yeah, and it’s definitely a great point. I mean, the the term you talk about like the the regular season feels pretty free and easy, you know, until necessarily the clutch time. I mean, that’s where you see um it get a little bit more intense in the playoffs for the most part. You know, not every guy, you know, you you mentioned Donovan Mitchell, and I feel so bad saying this, but you Donovan really in both games put he scored a lot of points, you know, but he put his team in tough situations defensively time and time again, not running back in transition, not blocking out, um, you know, not stepping over for your teammate to contest something. Um, and those little holes start to to show. But to your point on the three-point shooting, the other part you got to think about is guys are playing harder. They’re giving more um they’re giving more of themselves on the defensive side. That’s what I’m saying. And so and so the three-point shot, you know, their legs are not the same. Um I’ve always felt like when it comes down to it, when you get into whatever level, state tournament, uh the college tournament, you know, or the or the NBA, everything changes and it ratchets up. And I do think possessions become more important. Um I may be old school and people say no, you got to play the analytics, but I think you’re comparing regular season analytics to postseason analytics. And I would say that those numbers are vastly different. So you do I mean you can’t abandon the three, but I I do believe at times you have to be more reliant on things that can get you a a triedand-true bucket or a free throw shot. You know, something at the free throw line. That’s always been the old adage. in playoff tournament settings is those possessions become important. Um you don’t you don’t want to massage the ball. You you still want to play free and easy, but you you know, we always were more aware of shot selection in tournaments because the momentum um your opportunities really are are different than they are in the regular season. The Thunder gave up a 16-4 run to end the game in the last three minutes and lose. And SGA had all four of those points. Have they got to figure out a way to get him the ball? And I know, well, he’s the best guy and the other team’s trying to take him away. Well, of course they are. Granted, of course. But isn’t this why Steph Curry runs off 10 or 12 screens and gets himself in phenomenal shape and people are in phenomenal shape? work out with him in the summer and get cramps and get sick to their stomach because they can’t keep up with him. It’s like, don’t they have to get to that point because the other guys are young. It doesn’t look like they’re ready to win. Homegrren missed big free throws at the line in the final seconds. Don’t they have to find a way to get the ball to SGA down the stretch if they’re going to close these games out? Yeah, I mean, I think every team has to have what I call their bellcow, right? and and sometimes Shay’s um you know where he is his most effective uh he can be doubled and have to give the ball up and I think it’s going to be important for Oklahoma City to figure out different ways you know to get him the ball. Um but at the same time like he’s in the playoffs you know taking a team to the promised lands unproven too. So I said that all all along it’s you know this Oklahoma City team is dominant in the regular season. We’ve seen that here, right? We’ve seen a team that rolled through the regular season pretty easily and then the playoffs came and schemes changed and physicality changed and the approach changed. Um, so that’s going to be really important for Oklahoma City as they kind of traverse through this um, you know, for one of the first times with a major with a major target on them and it makes it more difficult. Majaras used to say it all the time, Heavy is the head that wears the crown. Um, these guys have have had a incredible regular season, but now the pressure is on them to win. Uh, at least the West. And yeah, it’s a new group in the playoffs. So, yeah, it I would say you’ve got to you’ve got to have your bellcow take you there. Um, and it’ll be interesting to see the that’s the other thing great about playoffs is the chess match between coaches. How will how will Oklahoma City change that? How will they they try to close games? And I mean, that’s why I’m pretty glued to this stuff most nights. In the land of the blind, Tim, the oneeyed man is king. I’ve heard that one, too. I would not suggest I’ve heard that one, too. I would not suggest that a team fire their coaching GM like a week before the playoffs, but it has freed up the Joker to lead in huddles. And we’ve seen lots of emotion out of him in both series now. He’s talking, he’s waving his arms, he’s imploring his guys to do whatever it is he’s talking about. Who knows, defending, rebounding, getting him the ball, whatever it is. Do you think in a weird way Denver actually discovered something even though they went against conventional wisdom by making major changes right before the playoffs? Yeah, maybe so. Um, you know, and you I guess the point is not the only people that know really what was going on people in that locker room. Um, I think Adam’s done a great job. Young guy, um, just kind of stepped in. But yeah, part of it is maybe the freedom that Joic feels maybe to open his mouth more now. Um, Malone is definitely a I mean, he’s a guy that stopped the lady interviewing him during a timeout on TV and said, you know, she called in Mike and he said, “It’s Michael.” So, I would assume he’s a rule keeper, a rule follower. He rules with a pretty iron fist. Um, and maybe some of that freedom has helped Joic. Uh, I when I was growing up, they used to have player coaches. You guys remember that? couple player coaches, Dave De Busher. And I was thinking that when he was up, I was like, let’s bring back the the player coach because he he looked like he could do it. I mean, he’s definitely he’s definitely smart enough. He’s got enough knowledge and he shows that on the daily. Pete Rose. Pete Rose was a player coach. Yeah. Was Lenny Wilkins. I bet Pete was great. I don’t know what Wilkins could have been. I don’t know. Did you guys get it? No, cuz Yak was talking to us. We didn’t hear you. Oh, I said I bet Pete was great. You knew something happened when you didn’t get a reaction. It’s like, okay, now. Yeah, cuz I like that was that was pretty good. At least here in the car. I’m autoimmune to jokes. I’m Tim Lome. What are we getting shaken in the head? No. For Yeah. Car, auto. It was okay. But you had some good stuff today. That just wasn’t You can’t have a You got a minute with me. I got I got to go into an interview here with some Oh, well, meditate for 30 seconds and pull yourself together. We’ll go now. Thank you, Tim. You’re the man. You guys are the best. It’s the best pre-in interview I’ve ever had. There. There it is. Tim Mcome, Jazz analyst for SCG Media and former college coach. I am intrigued, PK, by the thought of the Jazz drafting second because there’s so many people who are so high on Cooper flag and I know Danny sometimes sees the world differently and that Celtics draft, you know, trading down from one to three is legendary and getting it right and getting extra assets. I don’t think there’s any way he trade out of one. No, not now. Cooper flag’s the man. Yeah. And I think he thinks that. I don’t know what he thinks. He’s not telling me. Danny Ray thinks that. But I think Danny Range thinks Cooper’s the flag because everyone Cooper flag is the man because everyone does, right? But I don’t know about Dylan Harper and I’m intrigued if they got number two if he would find someone who really wants Harper and he’s thinking whoever. I don’t have the first. We don’t have the order yet, right? But let’s just say he gets the second pick. I understand whether he loves I meant player whether he loves Edgecomb or he loves uh but we don’t know the order who would be able to trade down is what I’m saying, right? So whatever team is at three or four or five and say I bet I can get my guy Edgecom if let’s just say it’s Edgecom. I bet we can get I can get my guy Edgecomb at four cuz I know three. And so I’m really intrigued to see if they end up too. What that would mean and maybe maybe he just line up pick Harper and then he’d have one of his two annual semianual press conferences and he would say I liked Harper all along. He impressed me from the start. I know his dad. He’s got all of his dad’s best traits. He’s a tremendous athlete and we really like where he can be in three or five years. So what you’re saying is Danny Ray will have a semianual conference. Nice. Well done. that mean? Well, is it the annual or semianual? That’s Well, when you have it twice a year, and he tends to talk twice a year at the start end of the season. Well, which one’s the annual? Which one’s the semianual? Very hard to understand. No, I think you raised a very excellent point. I hope it doesn’t come to that, right? Yeah. Everybody wants number one because Cooper flag is that well thought of and that well respected. Yeah, I would I would have put Ace Bailey in there ahead of Edgecomb, but I get your point. You were just making a point. Yeah. And maybe if if Bailey is the guy he wants, he maybe he just trades from two to three and takes Bailey. That could be right. And maybe he likes Edgecom and he thinks he can draft five because he thinks he knows who’s going four. I don’t know. You know, that world is so interconnected and people know and people guess and people won’t want to tell you what they’re going to do. But do you think we’re going to get Robert Parish and Kevin McCale for uh Joey Carol here? I don’t know if uh I don’t know if Red Arbach is walking through that door, but uh yeah, I’d be okay with that kind of trade. Bring a little Celtic magic out our way. DJ and PK it’s 975 the zone. Everything you missed in this show coming up next.
Tim LaComb joined DJ & PK to talk about the Utah Mammoth rebrand and look at NBA Draft options for the Utah Jazz.
